Bottle carrier



C. F. KOERBER BOTTLE CARRIER July 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1949 Ommas A K052552.

- INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY) Patented July 4, 1950 BOTTLE CXERIER Charles FrKoerber, Gla'y wownshi prtz St. Joseph Qountmgl'nd. q 7

.Applidationkpfifll, 1949; se iam; 865713" This invention -r1ates=to m rovementsin lidttl'e 'carrie'r's, and particularly to --a barrier for tie've'rage 'bo'ttl'e's, Whidh =w-i11 enable 1 a "purchaser who buys a; riiimber df bottles to "carry them easily J andconveniently. 1

"The primary o bj ect' of the invention-is to p'ro- A further object is toprovide *a "bottle carrier of thisoharacterwhieh is easyto fnanufadttir e, iriexpens'i-ve, whibh will not interfere with the stacking of Bottles, 'an'd"wlfich is-" D1dVide1 W-ith a -nove1 reiiiforoed hand gm p.

"further-*ohjeiit" is to provide a heme earner formed from a blankhe folded to rectangiilarform-with bottle receiving apertiire'sfl at =the' top'of tl'ie' retitaiigular-bbrtibn,

g one end "port-ion and whereinwhe other end'of the blank-is ape/"r t tiir'edaihspaced relation to it's 'end -=for r gister with the -*'fir's'it' aper res: when stibstaritially parail'er thereto and dafite'd, bearin the or this character e"orn1:-r-is"ri'g' "a scored tblarik ranged: two longitudinallyspaced' 'groups with thei'openiiigs of eauh group transversel y align-ed and spaced' from -thefehdof -the'blarikvadjacent thereto; and" also having means for-xinterlooking having-e; plurality of bottle reeeiving openings:ar-

one-end Epo'rtion of ithe-i-blankwithithe "portion 'of the". :blarikjbetWeenr said "groups-*of? openings, Whereby;when said blank i'si'berit along its score and its' end' portion is inter-looked -by- .'s'aid means, 'az'aplurality zofz'bottles' can' be inserted through pairs of -ialigned openings to *rest upon a trans- Werse porti'on of the-iblank-anchored byi-said interr *look-ingf means; and; whereby said carrier canibe suspended Tfromfits opposite end portion;

A further obj eat is: te-provide a'bOttle carrier formedfrom.azscorewandafolded blank having a Fi gfz isavertical seotional: view similar-to Fig. l 'etnd illizsttait-ihgthe earrier constructed to :carry' botties oi -a smallererre than =th0se 'sho'w'n in Fig-3 1 I itudmar sectional" view rs a: plan view heblan-k fi'om whioh the bottle carrier ShOWn in Fig. 1 is constructed.

Fig. -5 +15 a p1an= View 0f the blaink trom which the bottle earrier ill-txstrated in 'Figv'2 is con- StI'iictefl. u o 7 Referring the dr aiwing's which illustrate the preferred-'- embodiment-01 the inventionand'partieuiarly to Fi S.-1 a;nd4; the finumera1. l mdesig nates a blankr o'f i cardboard, ":p'aperboard, fib'erboard or any other sheet material founw suitable;- anawpreferably" h'ar'aoteri'zed 'b rigidity and strength-sufficient o s'upport theweight of amurnber ofubevemge ottles and -adapted "to be fold-ed a'r'id to'ipivbtlalohgifoldllirresi Ihe blank is of 'substantially'redtan'gular fOF-mfias' best seen in Fig. 4; 'iand'iis provided. with-1a plurality of trans- 'verse:-score:'1'ines Isl; l2,il3;iil4;.:[5,'-l6,;=l1, l8 and 19;Which are 's'ubs'tantially parallel tto each other ande alonguawhich ithe blanki is adapted to be folded: \le'shapeflr cuts'f.-:20?"are: formed at the oppesiteiusidese of "the blanknwith their apices locatedadjacent the score line H and the edges 'eXtendin-g -in eq-uiangular-v' relation therefrom to iterminateadjacent tovthe soor'e'ilines 1:6 and 8. The pbrtionfo'f then-blank between the scoref1ine HI' -aIIdLtt-ie:endiof'xtl'fetblankx defines a locking panel 2| ofrrelatiirlelyinarrow widthu The portion of therblahk'betweem thescore lines-- H and [2 defines a socketzpanelizz:whioh is ofa Widthsuhstantiaslly equallrfito A-"o'r "slightly greater than the diameter ofnthe .=cy-1ihdrica1 body portion 2 3" of a beverage: bottle: of the -=conventiona1weharacter havingvsa reduoed diameter-upper necksportion-M. The socketrpa-nel 2-Z is provided with a plurality ofiopenings *fls-forniedftherein; each =0'f= a Width orxsize sufiiciehtstorsnuglyi:receive the body rportioni2-3 ofza'bottle.. As'ihere: i11ustrated, the op,en-,

ingsdfi arefarrang ed in transverse alignment with Fthe: outermost-opening?spaced fromrthe'sideedges of the blankandithe(openingsibeingspaced apart by fwebportions.u-where'wthree openings: are sfor-medvimtheiblank; as;i-11ustrated in Fig. 4, two of 'zthexopeningsawill vbe -of circular character and the other opening willsbe defined -by straightside edges zfi ooincidingiwithethexscore-1-ines.l 'l and I2 andeaoh of a lengtl'rrecrrial to the diameter of the circular-openings: I-he other."v twoz edges of this opening will: be eharacterizednby angularl-y -ex tending zpontions defining tabs :2, 'as: seen.v in Fig. 4-. 1-;A- -1ongitudina1 .seore*linelikwilL-extend "along 1711313258391 cachet-the tabs-$1 and as-here shown, willzextend substantial-ly tangentvto the adjacent circularbottle-receiving;opening-25;

Thea-portion :of the blahk :betweer i the "score lines-'44 enrich-J3 :de'fines a risen -panek29; and-the panel 29. The riser panel 3| is slitted substan-.. tially at its center by a U-shaped cut or. slit 32 which defines an elongated tongue 33 whose free edge is located adjacent to the score line I4. This tongue 33 has a U-shaped slit 34 formed therein to define a tab 35 whose free edge is spaced from the ends of the parallel slit 32 which define the tongue 33 a distance slightly greater than the height of the locking panel 2|.

A portion of the blank between the score lines I5 and I6 defines a transverse panel 36. This panel is preferably. of substantially the same dimension or size as the panel 22 and has formed therein the openings 25, 26 separated by the tabs 21 of substantially similar arrangement and construction to the openings formed in the panel 22.

The portions of the panel between the score lines l6 and I1, and I1 and I8, define handle portions 31 and are preferably similar in construction. These two panels-are preferably provided with slits .38 of substantially the same size and preferably of C-shape, which cooperate with score lines 39 connecting the ends of said slits to define tab portions 40.

The portion 4| of the blank between the score lines |8 and I 9' is preferably of the same size and shape as the panels 22 and 36 and has openings 25, 26 and tabs 21 formed therein similar to those in the panel 22. .A short panel portion 42 extends between the score line I9 and the adjacent end of the blank, said panel preferably being of a dimension longitudinally of the blank slightly less than the spacing between the score line I5 and the adjacent ends of the slits 32 which form the tongue 33 in the panel portion 3|.

When it is desired to set up or erect a bottle carrier from the blank shown in Fig. 4, the blank is first folded along the score lines II, I2',. I3 and I4 so that a tube is formed of substantially rectangular cross-'sectionwith the panel 22 forming the top of the tube, the-panel forming the bottom of the tube, and the panels 29 and 3| formin the side walls'of'the tube. The panel 2| is bent upwardly out of the contour of the tube to bear fiat against the panel 3| and is tucked behind the tongue 33, being passed to the upper end of the tongue and clear of the tab which is then bent laterally so that the panel 3| may be moved downwardly to be interlocked between the tab 35 and the body of the tongue 33, as best shown in Fig. 1. The tab 35 engages the panel 2| at the inner edge of said panel defined by the left-hand cut edge 26, as seen in Fig. 1. It will also be observed in Fig. 1 that the device does not necessarily form a true rectangular tubeinasmuch as the panel portion 22 may be somewhat inclined.

The upper or opposite portion of the blank is then folded at score line I! to bring the panels 4 to position the engaged handle portions 31 sub stantially vertical, as also seen in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. The tabs 40 outlined 'by the slits 38 are then folded or return bent; as best seen in Fig. 1,

so as to form openings 43 which constitute finger openings.

. The device is now ready to be loaded, and, for

this purpose, the upper end portion of the carrier is held in position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig; 1. This serves to position the openings in the panels. 36 and 4| in substantial register with the openings in the panel 22 so that the bottles may be inserted through the registering openings in the panels 36, 4| and 22 with their bottoms resting upon the bottom panel 30.- It will be understood that the tabs 2'I.positionedbetween the bottle-receiving openings in each of the panels 25, 355 and 4| will have been folded along their score lines 28 to assume a substantially vertical position to form separators between the bottles. Inasmuch as the score lines 28 occur and extend substantially ,tangent to the circular openings 25, the thickness of the tabs 21 determines the spacingbetween the bottles. It will be observed in Fig. 1 that thescore lines I5 and I9 are located at a level upon the bottle 23 substantially coinciding with the level atwhich the partspherical shoulder 44 merges with the cylindrical body portion 23' of the bottle. Consequently, after the carrier has been loaded and the upwardly projecting panels 31 are gripped, as by passing thev fingers through the finger holes 43, the upper portion of the carrier is swung to the full line position illustrated in-Fig. 1 with the panels 36 and 4| assuming an inclined position and the portions of thebottle-receiving openings adjacent to the upright panels 31 engaging the neck portions 24 of the bottles.

Inthe form of the device shown in Fig. 4, three openings are formed in each of the panels 22, 36and 4|. This number is particularly well suited for carriers of a size to carry quart bottles. It will be understood, however, that a greater or smaller number of openings may be formed. Thus, openings may be provided to receive two bottles, or to receive four or more bottles;

The weight of the bottles is sustained by the bottom panel 30 and theopening in the panels 22,36 and 4| serve to so position the bottles as to. apply that force andweight of the bottle in a substantially vertical downward direction as opposed to a downwardly and laterally directed manner which would tend to tilt the bottles. The bottle-receiving openings, and particularly the openings in the panels 36 and 4|, thus act to prevent distortion'of the folded tubular lower socket portion for the bottle which would tend normallyto pull the panel 2| awayfrom the panel 3| and'to release the interlock provided by the tongue 33 and the tab 35. .Attention is also directed to the fact that the tongue 33 and tab 35 are so located or positioned that they are engaged by the cylindrical portion of the bottle 23 and held thereby against lateral displacement. In "other words, as best seen in Fig. 1, the cylindrical portion of the bottle holds the tongue substantially in the plane of the panel 3| and prevents it from being pulled to the left in Fig.1 in the manner which it would tend to be pulled by virtue of the application of the weight of the bottle to the bottom panel 30.

Another characteristic of the device is that when its end portion 31 is gripped and'the carrier is lifted, the panel portions'3I-lie alongside the bottle neck 24 and presslaterallythereagainst 1, whereupon the bottles'can be lifted out ofthe carrier Without difficulty.

- It will be observed that no staples, stitches,

glue or other securing means is required. in the device for its proper functioning or for strength. However, it will be apparent that a partial setup 'of-the device may be secured without lossof the flat knocked-down oonditionthereof bysupplying'--the blank folded along score line I1 and stapled at the handle panels 3?. This is strictly anaiternative construction which increases 'some what-the-str'ength of the unit but is not'required for: operative functioning of the device. Also, if desired, panel 2| may be stapled or' glued to panel 3|. r v

The deviceillustratedin Figs 2, 3 and 5 is designed to receive four bottles of smaller size 'than'the bottles received in the Fig. 1 device. For example, assuming the bottles illustrated in Fig.

'l'are'of one quart size, the bottles illustrated in '2 may be of the common12 ounce size or any other size desired. 'The smaller size of'the bottles and. the reduced weight thereof, compared to't he quartisize bottle, permits'a greater number of bottles to be carried ina device formed ofa material of a given'quality and strength, and the smaller diameter'ofthe bottles enables a larger number to be carried without substan- V tially increasing the width of thelcarrie'r.

The blank from which'the carrier illustrated in Figs. 2 and'S is formed is illustrated in Fig. 5 and is, substantially of rectangular form and is provided with'the score lines H, |2, l3, |4,|5 and I6 which correspond to score lines of the blank shown in Fig. l which show the same numbers. These score lines "cooperate to define the panels 2|, 22, 29, 30, 3|, 36 and '31 which are similar to the panels of the blank shownin Fig. ljj whi'ch bear the same numerals. It will be understood, however, that differences will occur in, various. blanks. as required by the difference inthesize of the bottle to bereceived'thereby. Thus,,.in the blank, shown in Fig 5, panels 22 and 3B.-.will have four or any other selectedfnume her of, bottle-receiving openings formed. therein, including the circular or part-circular end openings. 25 and. the intermediate openings defined by straight edges '26 coinciding with the score lines H and I2. Thetabs '21 are formed between each pair of adjacent openings, and these tabs are adapted to be bent along the score. lines28 in the same manner described above.

It will also be observed inFigQ5 that two interlocking tongues 33 are formed in the panel 3| that-rtheyare adapted to: engage the .panel z Ira-t thestraigh-t edges 26.- J The right handyend of the blank is preferably tapered at 46; and a score line/4:1: extendsparallelto thescores ||6 0f theblank and adjacentto the'right-hand end of the blank. The portion 48 of the blank forms a tongue adapted to: be return bent into :face engagement with the handleportion 31. Thehandle portion 3'! has the C-shaped slots 38 formed'therein to outline tabs-dllwhich' are" adapted to be bentalong the score lines-39. The tongue 48 has tabs-'49 outlined in part by the outer edge of said tongue,

and in part by curved slits 50, said tabs dabeing adapted to be foldedalong score lines 5| parallel to 'the score line l'land spaced therefrom the same distance that the score lines 39 are spaced irom'the score line 41. Consequently, the tabs Wand-49 register when the tongue isioldedalong the score line 41, and the tabs til-may be'push'ed through the openings outlined by the tabs 40 and return bent as illustrated in Fig. '2 to provide a convenient hand grip.

It will be apparent that the construction of-the carrier shown in 'Fig. 2 from the blank-shown in Fig. 5 possesses all of the advantages 'of the con struction previously described herein, and is erected andiilled in the same manner as the Fig.

1 device, with the exception that thecarrier isfof singlethickness throughout and not of double thickness at its upper portion as in the Fig. lde-j vice. Specifically, it will be apparent that the relation ofjthe bottles to the carrier'with two lateral contact-points atone side of the-bottles, that is, contact points at handle'3fl and panel 29; with a third lateral contact point at itsgoppositev side; namely at the panel 3| positioned in part, ata level between-the first mentioned contact points, is provided in this form in the same manner as in the Fig; 1 form. Observe also that the bottles in this form serve to hold the interlock which forms the'tubular bottom-socket in position is provided in this device in the same manner that it is provided in 'the Fig. 1 device.

Whilethe preferredembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will beunderstood' that changes in the construetion may be made within the scope of theap- 'pended claims without departing from thes'pirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A bottle carrier comprising a blank havinga plurality of. substantially parallel scores, said blank being lolded'along said scores to definea tube at one end; said. blank being slitted to define atongue interlocking with the end of the tube-forming portion of said blank, the opposite folded'end' portion of said blank including a transverse panel and a terminal handle-forming panel, saidtransverse panel and the upper portion of said tube each having abottle-reoeiving aperture therein. 7 1

2. A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular. portion including top, bottom andfside walls, one of said'side walls being taller than the other, a'transverse panel carried byfihe upper end of said'tall side wall, and an upwardl extend ing'handle panel carried by the free end of said transverse panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving, apergtures therein. 3.'A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion including top, bottom and side walls, one of said side walls being taller than the other, a transverse panel carried by the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardlylex tending handle panel carried by the free'end of said transverse panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, said tubular portion, transverse panel and handle panel being formed from a single blank, said tall side wall having atab struck therefrom and interlocking withthe end of said blank to hold said tubular portion in up.- erative position. a

v4. A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion including top, bottom and side walls, one of said sidewalls being taller than'the other, a transverse panel carriedby the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardly extending handle panel carried by the, free end of said transvers panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, said tubular portion, transverse panel and handle panel being formed from a single blank, said tall side wall having a tab struck therefrom and interlocking with the end of said blank to hold said tubular portion in operative position, said tab being located adjacent one of said apertures for engagement by a bottlereceived in said aperture.

5. A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion including top, bottom and side walls, one of said side walls being taller than the other, a transverse panel carried by the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardly extending handle panel carried by the free end of said transverse panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, said tubular portion, transverse panel and handle panel being formed from a single blank, a tab struck from said tall side wall, said blank including an end panel in face engagement with said tall side wall and interlocking with said tab to hold said tubular portion in operative position.

. 6. A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion including top, bottom and side Walls, one of said sidewalls being taller than the other, a, transverse panel carried by the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardly extending handle panel carried by th free end of said transverse panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, said tubular portion, transverse panel and handle panel being formed from a single blank including an end panel projecting from said tubular portion in face engagement with said tall side wall, a tongue struck from said tall. side wall in longitudinal alignment with one of said bottle openings and joined to said wall at its upper end, and a tab struck from said tongue with its free end adjacent the base of said tongue and spaced therefrom a distance at least equal to the height of said end panel whereby said end panel fits between said wall and tongue and is retained at selected elevation by said tab.

'7. A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion including top, bottom and side walls, one of said side Walls being taller than the other, a transverse panel carried by the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardly extending handle panel carried by the free end of said transverse panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving aper tures therein, said handle panel including a return bent panel in face engagement therewith, said handle panel and return bent panel having registering tabs struck therefrom and upwardly return bent tov provide a finger-receiving opening outlined at its upper edge by said tab return bend.

8 A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion :including top, bottom and side walls, one of said side walls being taller than the other, a transverse panel carried by the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardly extending handle panel carried by the free end of said transverse panel, said top Wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, said handle panel and transverse panel being formed of doublethickness. 9. A bottle carrier comprising a transverse tubular portion including top, bottom and side walls, one of said side walls being taller than theother, a transverse panel carried by the upper end of said tall side wall, and an upwardly extending handle panel carried by the free end of said transverse panel, said top wall and transverse panel having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, said tubular portion, transverse panel and handle panel being formed from. a single blank including an end portion complementary to and return bent upon said handle panel and transverse panel, said return bent end portion be-, ing apertured in registration with the apertures of said transverse panel.

, 10. A bottle carrier formed from a single apertured blank bent transversely at spaced points,.a locking tab struck from an intermediate portion of said blank in longitudinal alignment with an aperture and adapted to interlock with an end portion of said blank adjacent said aligned aperture to define a tubular portion apertured .atits upper portion, the upper portion of said blankincluding a laterally bent panel having apertures registering with said tube aperture, andan up: wardly projecting handle portion.

11. A bottle carrier formed from a single blank and comprising atransversely extending tubular portion at its lower end, an intermediate transverse portion spaced above said tubular portion and a handleportion at its upper end, said transverse portion and the upper part of said tubular portion having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein.

12. A bottle carrier formed from a single blank and comprising a transversely extending tubular portion at its lower end, an intermediate trans verse portion spaced above said tubular portion and a handle portion at its upper end, said transverse portion and the upper part of said tubular portion having registering bottle-receiving apertures therein, and a locking tab formed integrally with the intermediate portion of said blank and interlocked with an end portion of said blank adjacent one of said openings to retain the, lower portion of said blank in tubular shape.

CHARLES F. KOERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,026,525 Korte Jan. 7, 1936 2,094,744 Keith Oct. 5, 1937 2,160,550 Lupton May 30,1939 2,340,230 Slevin, Jr Jan.- 25, 1944 2,362,995 Gilbert Nov. 21, 1944 

